Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Friday 28 January 2000

Scottish Executive

Aggregates Tax

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the impact of an aggregates tax on jobs and the environment in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has made a number of representations to HM Government on a wide range of issues including the aggregates tax.

Enterprise

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact macro-economic policies planned by Her Majesty’s Government will have on its enterprise policies, whether these policies will provide a good climate for people in Scotland to start up in business, and whether these policies will give small business the confidence to respond and invest in the future.

Henry McLeish: Inflation is now low and stable. Output in the Scottish economy continues to expand in both the manufacturing and service sectors. Unemployment in Scotland is falling and is low by historical and international standards, while employment is rising. These conditions provide a sound basis for the Scottish Executive’s policies to promote a stable and competitive environment that will inspire more home grown enterprises to flourish.

Environment

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the consultation on the proposed regulation covering the river Ythan nitrate vulnerable zone to include all potentially affected land holders.

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will extend the consultation period for the proposed regulation covering the river Ythan nitrate vulnerable zone.

Sarah Boyack: We do not propose to extend the period of formal consultation about the terms of the proposed designation of the Ythan catchment as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. The consultation paper on the proposed designation was widely publicised. It was sent to a large range of organisations and made available in local Rural Affairs Department and National Farmers Union offices and in public libraries. Responses from any person will be taken into account. We also expect to undertake a further formal consultation later in the year about proposed regulations for the action programme rules which farmers would be required to follow within the Zone.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the impact will be in Scotland upon (a) levels of unemployment, (b) small businesses and (c) the economy if it decides to make final its decision to fix a business rate poundage of 10.1% higher than the proposed poundage in England.

Mr Jack McConnell: The provisional poundage figure I announced on 8 December was calculated to keep the total tax burden the same in real terms for Scottish businesses. The proposed higher Scottish poundage results from an expected smaller increase in rateable value in Scotland than in England, the system has been designed to achieve a neutral effect overall.

Finance

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it consulted with any representatives or representative bodies of the business community regarding its decision to fix a business rate poundage of 10.1% higher than in England prior to its ministerial statement on local government finance of 8 December 1999.

Mr Jack McConnell: I had a number of meetings with business representative bodies to discuss rating and valuation issues. I will continue to do so up to, and following, the revaluation in line with the policy of openness and transparency. In addition, I have since published the detailed calculations which prove that the total revenue raised through business rates will simply be maintained in 2000-01.

Food Labelling

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of its response to the European Union proposal to delay implementation of the beef labelling system established under EC Regulation 820/97.

Ross Finnie: I attended the EU council meeting in December at which the proposals for a compulsory beef labelling scheme were deferred by the EU until 1 September 2000. I support the introduction of a mandatory beef labelling scheme that would provide clear information to consumers as soon as is practicable. Officials from my department are participating in discussions within the EU on the new regulations.

Food Labelling

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-3200 on 24 December 1999 by Ross Finnie, whether it plans to introduce any measures in connection with the labelling of meat and meat products with the country of origin and, if so, what form these measures will take.

Ross Finnie: As explained in my answer of 24 December 1999 to a related question from Irene McGugan, the Scottish Executive issued a consultation paper seeking views from interested parties on this matter. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered with a view to amending the Guidance Notes on the Food Labelling Regulations to clarify and strengthen the guidance relating to country of origin. No change to the regulations themselves is proposed.

Further Education

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any constraints which limit the ability of the responsible Minister to investigate and intervene regarding the maintenance of standards in further education colleges.

Henry McLeish: The statutory duty to secure adequate and efficient provision of further education in Scotland is now principally exercised by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council on behalf of Ministers. When questions about standards in FE colleges arise, Ministers would expect the Council to investigate matters and, if needs be, take appropriate action.

  Standards in FE colleges are being considered as part of the review of management currently being carried out by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council. The review will identify best practice with a view to promulgating such examples throughout the FE sector.

Geese

George Lyon (Argyll and Bute) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1898 by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 1999, when the final report of the National Goose Forum will be published, what provisions have been made for community consultation in relation to the report’s recommendations and what timescale will exist for their implementation.

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-1898 and S1W-2705 by Sarah Boyack on 25 October 1999 and 6 December 1999 respectively, when it currently expects the final report of the National Goose Forum to be published.

Sarah Boyack: : Ministers have considered the final report of the National Goose Forum and have agreed that it should be published as a consultative document, which I expect will take place next month. As intimated in my answer to question S1W-2705, I envisage a two-month consultation period, during which time we will arrange for the report to be available to interested parties, including the Parliament’s relevant committees.

  In relation to implementation, our aim is to have a new policy framework to manage the interaction between Scotland's goose populations and agricultural interests in place for the winter of 2000-01.

Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs have been lost at Stracathro Hospital, Angus over the past year and in which departments these job losses occurred.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many job losses are proposed for the coming year at Stracathro Hospital, Angus and in which departments.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust. I expect local Trusts to consult fully with staff on service developments.

Legislation

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to develop proposals for legislation on the law of the foreshore and seabed.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have sent the Scottish Law Commission the following reference:

  "Taking account of the Land Reform Action Plan, to consider the existing law of the foreshore and seabed, and to advise on possible reforms, with a view to improving clarity and consistency."

  I expect this work to be completed by the end of 2002. This will be an essential basis for Ministers’ consideration of options for policy changes in relation to this legislation.

Local Government

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-906 by Mr Frank McAveety on 25 August 1999, when it will issue the consultation paper on the Report of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament, which will include a section on community councils.

Mr Frank McAveety: Our paper Report of the Commission on Local Government and the Scottish Parliament: the Scottish Executive’s Response was issued on 27 September 1999. The paper sought views on a number of issues raised by the Commission and we are considering the responses received from local authorities, community councils and others.

Local Government

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-905 by Sarah Boyack on 12 October 1999, whether it intends to review the guidelines for delegated powers, and how it will ensure that delegation is uniform across local authorities in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has no such plans.

  Local authorities are distinct corporate bodies whose powers and duties are set out in statute and they are separate from the Scottish Executive. They are responsible for ensuring that they act lawfully in managing their day to day business.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why Glasgow City Council’s expenditure guideline figure for 2000-01 has been increased by less than the Scottish average.

Mr Jack McConnell: Each council’s expenditure guideline figure is calculated on the basis of its increase in Grant-Aided Expenditure and loan charge support. The distribution of GAE, as stated in my reply to Mr Gibson’s earlier question (S1W-3398), is based on a formula assessment of councils’ relative expenditure needs agreed with CoSLA. Although Glasgow City Council’s increase in loan charges support for 2000-01 was above average, its increase in GAE was below average, largely because of the continuing phasing in of revised Social Work GAE indicators and the normal redistributive effects on a number of other service assessments within the agreed formula approach. As Glasgow’s GAE increase was the most significant component in the calculation of its guideline, this resulted in Glasgow having a correspondingly lower than average guideline increase.

Local Government Finance

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to write off community charge debt.

Mr Jack McConnell: We received the report It Pays to Pay , a joint CoSLA/Scottish Executive paper, on 22 December 1999 and are currently considering its recommendations, including those which refer to community charge debt.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to answer outstanding questions S1W-1364 and S1W-1366, lodged on 2 September 1999.

Mr Jim Wallace: PQ’s S1W-1364 & S1W-1366 were answered on the 17 January.

Planning

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1677 by Sarah Boyack on 29 November 1999, when it will bring forward proposals to "sharpen up the planning process".

Sarah Boyack: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-2768.

Police

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the level of funding provided to Central Scotland Police in order to meet its major incident control responsibilities at the Grangemouth Oil Refinery.

Mr Jim Wallace: Central Scotland Police receive civil defence grant to enable them to employ an officer at the rank of Inspector together with support staff. This allows the force to carry out its emergency planning functions throughout the force area, including Grangemouth Oil Refinery. Funding for 1999-2000 is £54,700.

Poverty

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current method for calculating funding awards to tackle deprivation takes account of areas suffering from poverty that may be part of larger communities that are deemed to be affluent and, if not, what plans it has to ensure that such funding awards are made available to these areas.

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide details on the methods, formulae, and criteria used to calculate funding awards for projects aimed at tackling social inclusion and whether it has any plans to make changes to ensure that all pockets of poverty are identified.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I shall answer this and Mr Lochhead’s subsequent question (S1W-3749) together.

  In the reply of 13 January to a similar question from Mr Lewis Macdonald (S1O-902) we explained that there is no single method of allocating resources for tackling deprivation across the range of the Executive’s programmes. The reply also pointed out that the Social Justice Report, published in November 1999, makes clear that we will exploring how planning systems can be developed to ensure expenditure is effective and relevant to the problems experienced by particular groups and communities.

Social Inclusion

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Social Inclusion Partnerships do not have monies allocated specifically for housing regeneration and where such partnerships are located.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Scottish Homes and local authorities are active partners in Social Inclusion Partnerships and contribute as appropriate to housing regeneration programmes. The resources specifically allocated to Social Inclusion Partnerships under the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund are not used for housing regeneration programmes.

Social Inclusion

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage the elimination of "postcode" discrimination in relation to a variety of issues including employment and credit.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment law and financial services regulation are both reserved matters. We would consider any specific proposals which fall within the Executive’s responsibilities if details are supplied.

Taxation

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what was the average increase in the rateable values in Scotland as a result of the 1995 revaluation.

Mr Jack McConnell: The average increase was 32%.

Tourism

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will encourage the Automobile Association to include the promotion of Scottish tourist attractions in its Benefits Guide which is distributed to its nine million members.

Henry McLeish: This is an operational matter for the Scottish Tourist Board but they are currently in discussion with the Automobile Association.

Trading Standards

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ensure that small shopkeepers are not prosecuted at least in this year over the change to metric weights in view of the possible added burdens these changes may cause local shops and whether it has carried out any assessment as to the economic impact these changes will have on small shopkeepers as compared to supermarkets.

Henry McLeish: Weights and Measures legislation including metrication is a reserved matter. The Department of Trade and Industry made a UK-wide assessment of the expected compliance cost to business, including small firms arising out of the legislation.

  The main cost is likely to be for the conversion or replacement of weighing machines. Most machines should be able to be converted. The cost of conversion is expected on average to be around £100.

  The enforcement of legislation relating to weights and measures is a matter for local authority trading standards departments. Trading standards departments will normally enforce the law by offering guidance rather than by taking enforcement action.

Transport

Mr Murray Tosh (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Minister for Transport and the Environment advised relevant council leaders when she met them on 21 December 1999 that the Executive believes that they should make any scheme revisions to the proposed M74 Northern Extension.

Sarah Boyack: The Executive’s position on the M74 Northern Extension was set out in my statement to Parliament on 4 November and in the report on the Strategic Roads Review which was published on the same day. As I explained on 13 January, in response to question S1O-917, discussion at my meeting with the council leaders on 21 December focused on how the councils might deliver their proposal. It is, however, for the councils, as the scheme’s promoters, to decide on all aspects of the procurement, including the scheme details.